Gas smell prompts evacuation of 3 buildings

Precautions taken at Albany intersection

Updated 10:20 pm, Tuesday, January 22, 2013

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The intersection of Albany's Quail Street and Central Avenue is quiet Tuesday night after part of the avenue was closed and surrounding buildings evacuated after a strong odor of gasoline was detected. (Jordan Carleo-Evangelist) less

The intersection of Albany's Quail Street and Central Avenue is quiet Tuesday night after part of the avenue was closed and surrounding buildings evacuated after a strong odor of gasoline was detected. (Jordan ... more

Gas smell prompts evacuation of 3 buildings

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ALBANY — Three buildings near the intersection of Quail Street and Central Avenue — including the headquarters of public radio station WAMC — were evacuated Tuesday evening after occupants complained of a strong odor of gasoline, authorities said.

Fire Chief Robert Forezzi said the buildings were evacuated around 5 p.m. as a precaution after the odor, as well as high levels of explosive gasoline, were detected in the air in the area.

"There's no danger of explosion anymore," Forezzi said. "They had some high readings at the time."

Central Avenue between Quail Street and North Lake Avenue was closed at about 5:30 p.m and remained closed at 8 p.m. as fire crews continued to flush the nearby sewer system, which was believed to be the source of the gas.

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Forezzi said the exact cause of the odor was not clear but suggested it may have been caused by someone dumping gasoline into the sewer system or fuel leaking from a vehicle.

Determining where it came from may be impossible "unless somebody owns up to it," he said.

Deputy Chief Michael Cox said he was never concerned that an explosion was likely but that the levels of explosive gases detected were of enough worry to merit precautionary evacuations.

"It was high enough that it was better not to have those people hanging around," Cox said.

Cox said the three buildings affected were one on the corner that houses a Subway sandwich shop on the first floor, the WAMC headquarters next door and another building just to the east. All three are on the south side of Central Avenue between Quail Street and North Lake Avenue.

Cox said he did not believe any residences were affected by the evacuations.

Authorities said flushing the sewer system with water and ventilating nearby buildings seemed to be addressing the problem.